RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF SHANKHAPUSHPI AND JATAMANSI SIDDHA TAILA SHIRODHARA IN ANIDRA

The prevalence of insomnia is variable depending on the parameters selected. Various studies worldwide have shown the prevalence of insomnia in 10% -30% of the population, some even as high as 50% -60%. In US adults 1 in 5 struggle to sleep every single night. In India, in a study among 2475 adult subjects of 30-60 years, it was found that 28.1% of the subjects reported having complaints suggestive of disorders of initiation and maintenance of sleep. It is important to note that this is not a direct causal relationship between sleep duration and increased mortality, as multiple behavioral and co-morbid factors (age, gender, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking) interact, with possible cumulative effects leading to the observed increases in mortality. The value of getting enough sleep is acknowledged on a global scale. That’s why the significance of sleep to health status deserves particular and earnest attention.

When the treatment of insomnia is concerned, contemporary medicine includes antidepressants which have adverse effects, like nausea, increased appetite and weight gain, further increase of anxiety and dizziness. Allopathic hypnotic drugs are useful for the short-term treatment of insomnia which is due to acute stage. Long-term uses of certain classes of sedatives cause physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms also have several side effects.  Complaints of insomnia tend to be persistent or recurrent over time. Thus, it seems that patients with chronic insomnia need some form of treatment.

So in search of a potent therapy to manage Anidra, we can consider medicines mentioned in our classics. Shirodhara is the procedure that tends to reduce symptoms of Anidra mentioned in Dharakalpa. 13/10-18 At the same time, Shankhapushpi and Jatamansi are medhya dravyas and these drugs show vata shaman properties as well as an increase in tama guna mentioned in**Bhavprakash, Kaiyadeva, Dhanvantari and Raj Nighantu. So, this study is carried out to find the effect of this dravya as a Shirodhara tailin Anidra.